Greek skier AJ Ginnis, considered Greece’s best alpine skier, has been chosen as the first torchbearer at the flame lighting ceremony for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The decision was unanimously approved at the Plenary Session of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, following a proposal by the president of the Olympic Torch Relay Committee, Thomas Tokas.

Ginnis, 30, becomes the first Greek to receive this honor for the upcoming Winter Games, a recognition that underscores his outstanding career in the sport.

A recognition of his historic career

Alexandros Ginnis, as he is known in Greek, achieved the highest distinction in the history of Greek alpine skiing by finishing second in the Alpine Skiing World Championships. This unprecedented achievement for Greece positions him as a leader in his discipline and a symbol of national pride.

“It is a great honor for me, something I never imagined as a child. I want to thank the Hellenic Olympic Committee for their trust and this decision,” Ginnis said after being elected. The committee’s president, Spyros Capralos, also congratulated the athlete, highlighting the importance of this moment in his career.

In the birthplace of the Olympic Games

The Olympic flame lighting ceremony will take place in the historic city of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 26, 2025, and will mark the start of the nine-day torch relay through Greece.

The relay will culminate on December 4 at the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, where the flame will be handed over to the Italian organizers of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games.

The Hellenic Olympic Committee also announced that the master of ceremonies for events related to the Olympic flame will be Dr. Makis Asimakopoulos, director of the International Olympic Academy. His role will be fundamental in maintaining the solemnity and symbolism of this event, which connects Olympic tradition with the present.